Benton, AR Fishing: Impressive Waters of the Saline County

Benton is the county seat of Saline County and a suburb of Little Rock in Arkansas. Benton was first settled in 1833. Benton was initially called Saline but was later renamed after Missouri Senator Thomas Hart Benton. In 1836, after Arkansas became a state, Benton was officially chartered. Niloak pottery and salt mining are the main drivers of the Benton economy. During World War II, bauxite processing helped Benton and Saline County's economies to soar. Nowadays, Benton is known for steel fabrication and the manufacturing of veneer, ceramics, asphalt, concrete, and marine parts.

Benton is the perfect place for antique enthusiasts searching for treasures with various antique shops found in the area. One of the most sought-after items in Benton is the impressive collection of Niloak pottery. The pottery's unique method of swirling colors, known as its distinctive trademark, died with its creator Charles Hyten. Benton is also known for its historical sites, like the Shoppach House. German immigrant John W. Shoppach constructed the Shoppach House in 1852, where the family's five generations lived throughout the centuries. The brick house also contains items that belonged to Shoppach family members. Donated items of the same period from the community are also found in the place. The Shoppach House aims to preserve the history of Saline County. Benton observes the Old Fashioned Day annually. The festival is Arkansas' oldest festival that celebrates music, arts and crafts like pottery, jewelry, and homemade baked goods.

Benton offers excellent fishing, fantastic scenery, and backcountry activities for the outdoors enthusiast.

Benton Fishing

With Benton surrounded by different water bodies, it is a suitable spot for fishing. Fishing in Benton is open year-round, welcoming anglers looking for extraordinary fishing adventures.

Benton's Saline River is one of the best spots for fishing. It is divided into three major divisions, the North Folk Saline River, the Alum Fork Saline River, and the South Folk Saline River. Smallmouth bass are plentiful in the upper reaches area of the river. In contrast, largemouth bass are abundant in the lower reaches area. The water between the upper and lower reaches is filled with spotted bass overlapping both areas. Panfish are abundant in the Saline, with the warmouth, longear, and green sunfish topping the offering. Bluegill and crappie usually are caught here, too. Canoes are the best mode of transportation if you plan to fish in the waters of the Saline River and its divisions. Salt Creek is also connected to the Saline River and boasts trophy fish like pumpkinseed, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, spotted bass, bluegill, rock bass, green sunfish, and redear sunfish. Depot Creek, another tributary of the Saline River, is where anglers can catch spotted bass, largemouth bass, walleye, smallmouth bass, black crappie, rock bass, river redhorse, and freshwater drum. Another Saline River tributary, the Holly Creek, boasts largemouth bass and bluefish. 

To the north of Benton, Hurricane Lake is located. It is a 332-acre man-made lake at the intersection of Hurricane Creek and Little Hurricane Creek. Largemouth bass, bluegill, channel catfish, white crappie, black crappie, yellow bullhead, yellow bass, and alligator gar are the common catches of Hurricane Lake. The most popular species caught in Little Hurricane Creek and Hurricane Creek are largemouth bass, channel catfish, spotted bass, bluegill, green sunfish, red drum, muskellunge, and white crappie.

Lake Pauline is a reservoir just 1.9 miles from the center of Benton. The fish species anglers can target in the lake are largemouth bass, creek chub, spotted bass, bluegill, redear sunfish, pumpkinseed, white sucker, and channel catfish. Bass, crappie, bream, catfish, and walleye are the fish anglers can catch in Sunset Lake while bringing home bluegill and largemouth bass. Timber Lake is a reservoir in Benton, near Bauxite. It is renowned for catfish and bass fishing. Alcoa Water Supply is another reservoir in Benton where anglers can target bluegill, spotted bass, and green sunfish. 

Anglers can spin fish, fly fish, and bank fish from the banks of rivers and creeks. They can also launch a boat, a canoe, or a kayak for drift fishing. 

Top 10 Fish Species in Benton, AR

The top 10 fish species found in Benton, AR, are spotted bass, largemouth bass, crappie, channel catfish, bluegill, yellow bullhead, smallmouth bass, pumpkinseed, green sunfish, and rock bass. 

Seasonal Fishing

Bass fishing is open year-round, but they can be caught best during the spring. Largemouth bass start their spawning season during spring, while spotted bass spawn every mid-March to late May. Rock bass are polygynandrous, and their breeding period transpires from April to early June. The months of April until July is when smallmouth bass spawning season commences. Spring is undoubtedly the best season to go after crappie, although they can still be targeted year-round. Crappie spawn depending on the water temperature, as they prefer warmer waters during the breeding season. Summer is an excellent time for catfishing, but anglers can catch them year-round. Channel catfish spawning season happens from May to July. Spring and early summer are the most fitting seasons to target bluegill. They typically spawn once a month, from April through October. Anglers can catch yellow bullhead anytime, but they are captured best after the sun sets and just before the sun rises. They spawn from May through June. Pumpkinseed are best targeted when their spawning season begins; their spawning activities usually occur from May to July. Green sunfish are found in shallow waters during spring, making it the prime season to target them. Rock bass commence their spawning period from late June until the early weeks of July. They are available to anglers year-round.

Benton Activities You Should Never Miss

Visitors wishing to visit Benton in Arkansan are in for a treat. Travelers of all ages and interests will enjoy a great variety of sceneries and activities.

1. Fishing Charters

Fishing the waters of Benton can be pretty intimidating, especially for first-timers. If you want to maximize your fishing experience, booking a charter with a guide who knows the water bodies across Benton will be your advantage.

2. Visit the Gann Museum

The Gann Museum of Saline County is known to be the only structure in the whole world to use bauxite as a building material. The establishment was constructed in 1896 for Dr. Dewell Gann, Sr., the Saline County Medical Society organizer and a prominent physician in Benton. The building is home to memorabilia, photographs, Dr. Gann's original office furniture, and artifacts. It also houses various exhibits, including Niloak pottery originally made in Benton, Quapaw, and Caddo Indian artifacts, an area devoted to the aluminum era of Saline County, the Civil War, World War I, and World War II.

3. Park Experience Like No Other

Experience amenities across Benton's amazing parks like Riverside Park, Lyle Park, Ralph Bunche Park, and Tyndall Park. Aside from fishing activities, travelers can enjoy the soccer fields, softball fields, baseball fields, walking trails, hiking trails, camping, picnicking, and playgrounds. They can also engage in swimming and boating activities.